Empathy Over Anger

Everyone faces challenges. Most people are dealing with a lot of them right now. It would serve us well to remember that. 

It's so easy to be frustrated or angry with someone who isn't being as kind as we would like. Maybe we could expand our patience a bit. Things are hard for almost everyone.

Maybe we could fly above it. Life is too short. 

Choose empathy. Choose understanding. Choose compassion. Choose Love.

Love,

T

Know Thyself

 Self-deception: the action or practice of allowing oneself to believe that a false or unvalidated feeling, idea, or situation is true. (Google, Definitions from Oxford Languages)

Isn't it funny how we can easily see things in OTHER people, before we see it in ourselves? 

Wouldn't the world be a better place if we all improved ourselves by increasing our ability to be honest with ourselves?

So many untruths... so many people believing them... We should just stop.

Love,

T

Perception Reality

 Isn't it funny how perspective can change things?

A lesson in "Never Give Up" - from #nature 

 "Never Give Up" can become "Never Give Up Quitting" under different circumstances. Shortly after posting the above on Instagram, I saw a different picture which completely changed the story.

I am reminded that nothing is absolute except for perfect Love. May that be our aim.

When dipping into the "positivity" algorithm, it's important to remember that everything might not be for you. Take what speaks to you and toss the rest. YOU are  the master of your own destiny. YOU are in control of your own thoughts. YOU guide your own path by the choices you make - even the little choices, or what may SEEM little. Your perception is everything. It becomes your reality. Choose how to see things, intentionally.

Namaste,

T

Bright and Sunshiny

We thought Mom and Dad G. could use a snowman.

So, over the river and through the woods...

There was a little rough patch.

But we got through it.

We think a good time was had by all...

and it turned out to be a bright, sunshiny day.

Sure beats the slush.

Here's wishing you all a bright and sunshiny week...

Love,

T

Assume Nothing

 I didn't post anything for Valentine's Day.

Was it because I was having a relaxing and lovely evening?

No.

It was (at least in part) BECAUSE even though I was supposed to be watching "The Lion King II: Simba's Pride" - I was dealing with a preschooler's complete meltdown over a blue bathrobe which was NOT on the hook where it usually is, but in the dryer AND also dealing with the migraine that developed shortly afterward despite binge watching "Schitt's Creek" in a failed attempt to alieviate the trauma. I did laugh a few times though and I'm sure that must have helped.

Now, if you don't mind, I'm going to just keep this short today. Hope you all had a lovely Valentine's Day.

A dear friend sent me this. It is perfect and wonderful - so I'll pass it along to you.

Hope you have a beautiful week!

Love, 

T

P.S. Our new favorite show:

Sadie

Sadie
July 23, 2006 - February 4, 2021

Sadly, our dog Sadie has passed away. We miss her deeply and are grateful beyond measure for the fourteen-and-a-half years she was here as a part of our family. Her final illness progressed rapidly and while it took us by surprise on Wednesday evening, we are comforted in that she did not have to endure prolonged suffering. Although several procedures relieved her discomfort overnight, by Thursday morning we were forced to make the decision that so many pet owners dread. We were able to pet her once more and love her through her peaceful transition to sleep.

Throughout our years together, she brought us immeasurable joy and guided us through life in ways we didn’t always understand. We never imagined that one fateful trip to the mall for dinner in 2006 would change our lives forever. We DID know we couldn’t leave that little Australian Shepherd puppy in the pet store. She was “on sale” and would soon go to a shelter. We discovered that the reason she dragged her back end a bit was due to a lack of muscle, a result of being born into a puppy mill and confined to cages for her first several months. 

Being familiar with the breed from my mom’s family, we knew she would require a lot of physical and mental exercise. Her leg strength developed steadily with plenty of walks, runs and play. She was a spunky, feisty little ball of energy who would not stop chewing on my shoelaces (while they were on my feet)! She was our first “child” of sorts and as we saw her through puppy kindergarten, countless training sessions, classes and play times, and never-ending adventures, she taught us well - while simultaneously maturing into the instinctive, bright, playful, and mischievous overgrown pup that she remained her entire life. 

Eventually, she would receive her own dog in the form of “Bentley” whom she loved dearly and bossed around constantly. He loved her profoundly as evidenced by his absolute obedience and fierce protection of her. He looked to her for instruction (on even the simplest of matters) and dutifully became her personal bodyguard outside and whenever she was nervous.

They would both receive a human boy in their later years, whom they both cherished and they settled into “parenthood” with grace, maturity and a willingness to eat whatever he dropped on the floor or was stuck to his fingers. She overcame her fear of children in order to care for him and he in turn was born into a world knowing the love of a dog.

Through all our adventures and travels, (including crossing the country four times by car, visits to the Grand Canyon, Vegas, Memphis, Toronto, Virginia, Hollywood, pit stops along Route 66, countless hotels, muddy swamps, snowfalls, music studio sessions, music video shoots, and fourteen years’ worth of family events, laughter, and love), one thing she said to me once really stands out. (Oh… Did I forget to mention that she could talk?) ;)

I was thinking philosophically and considered that she was such a good dog, perhaps she would advance spiritually enough to come back to earth someday as a human. She looked at me with a sort of gentle pity. “YOU have it BACKwards,” she said in her melodic way. “If YOU advance enough YOU might get to come back as a DOG.” It’s true that dogs have indeed mastered unconditional Love in a way that we humans can only aspire to. People have always had a problem with hubris. She had it all figured out and I was just her silly human.

Thank you, Sadie. We love you. Your Spirit remains with us always and we are Blessed to have  you as our forever Angel dog, or as Zachary puts it, our “SUPER DOG!”

xo

The Snow Angel

 

A quick Google search didn't yield a precise answer as to the history or origin of the snow Angel. Some say (Noel Botham's "The Book of Useless Information") that Jewish mystics would roll in the snow to purge themselves of evil urges. The current world record of "Most People Making Snow Angels Simultaneously" is held by the State Historical Society of North Dakota (8,692 people on February 17, 2017). Numerous people have written books with "Snow Angel" in the title and Wikipedia will tell you how to make one. One comment online (by Richard O. Colestock on Quora.com) suggests that as long as there has been snow and children, snow Angels have existed.

Click here for guinnessworldrecords.com "Most People Making Snow Angels Simultaneously"

I just find it interesting that this simple act we did outside today, which I was mildly curious about, could be something that's been around since the beginning of time and have the ability to connect people from all walks of life, throughout time and culture. That's a powerful ability for one little playful action.

Have a good week everyone. Stay safe. Stay warm.

Love,

T

Click here for Tanya Diona's "United (Angels' Anthem)" on Spotify